February 4, 2014

John Ursillo, the  featured artist at Artworks Gallery this month, will be demonstrating his colored pencil techniques at a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7 at Artworks Gallery, Greenbank Farm.

A consistent award-winning artist and popular instructor John takes the rapidly-rising professional medium of colored pencil to levels garnering him local and national attention. As a Signature Member in the Colored Pencil Society of America (CPSA), John is the only artist on Whidbey Island so honored.

A colorist at heart, John’s paintings have been critically noted for their ability to render light, giving them an almost palpable sense of time, realism, depth, and volume. Art critic Brian Sherwin commented “John Ursillo’s colored pencil pieces are absolutely brilliant. Every colored pencil piece I’ve observed is strengthened by John’s ability to capture light and texture. John explores what many describe as a difficult medium with apparent ease…a true master.”

Ursillo is the developer of an advanced colored pencil technique called “Solvent Enhancement” published in “CP (Colored Pencil) Magazine” in February 2014.

In December, 2013 John was featured in Ann Kullberg’s new book “Colored Pencil Treasures from Around the Globe, Volume 2,” available from Amazon.com or at annkullberg.com.

Art on exhibit at the gallery includes paintings in oil, watercolor, colored pencil, acrylic, and pastel; handcrafted jewelry; color and black & white photography; fiber arts; metal sculpture and garden art; pottery and fused glass. Giclees and cards by the artists are also available.

Artworks Gallery is located at Greenbank Farm on Whidbey Island. Winter hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, visit the web site: artworkswhidbey.com or call (360) 222-3010.